Rolling mill



Jan. 11, 1927. ,6 ,425

J. R. COE

ROLLING MILL Filed May 22, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 v ww J. R. COE

ROLLING MILL Jan. 11, 1927.

s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22, 1926 in! v Jan. 11 1927. 1,614,425

J- R. COE

ROLLING MILL Filed May 22, 1926 I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES IMMZS PATENT OFFWE.

JAMES R. COE, or WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR To THE AMERICAN BRASS COMPANY, or WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION or CONNECTICUT.

RDLLDTG MILL.

Application filed May 22,

This invention relates to rolling mills and has for an object to provide improved means to obtain the necessary stiffness for rolls of comparatively small diameter. It is a particular object of the invention to provide backing means for the work rolls extending throughout substantially the entire length of the rolls and which is so mounted that the individual elements thereof may be adjusted so as to cause deflection of the work rolls in a vertical plane while preventing deflection thereof in a horizontal plane. Thus the pressure in a vertical plane at any position throughout the length of the rolls may be determined for the work desired while still maintaining the rolls in proper alignment with the vertical plane; and it is a further object of-the invention to secure a construction which will give this result and will provide great strength and stiffness for the members to reduce the springing of the work rolls to a minimum and thereby insuring as far as possible no change in the position of the work rolls under varying loads.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised the construction and arrangement illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification. similar reference characters being employed throughout the various figures to indicate corresponding elements. In these drawings,

Fig. l is a front elevation of a rolling mill showing my improved backing means for the. work rolls.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section thereof on an enlarged scale, the section being substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the upper Work roll and the backing members there for, a portion of the supporting member being shown in section.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing a slightly different form of mounting for the backing members.

Fig. 5' is a transverse section through a supporting member, a work roll and another means of mounting the backing members therefor. and

Fig. 6 is a similar View showing still another means of mounting the backing members.

In rolling mill practice very high pressures are usually required and rolls to 1926. Serial No. 110,943.

withstand these pressures and not yield or spring an objectionable amount must be of a large diameter which makes them expensive and difiicult to handle. These larger rolls are also objectionable for certain work because the small angle at the rolling point between the rolls makes it diflicult to secure the required reduction of the metal being rolled. Therefore, these large rolls require agreater number of passes to' secure the desired reduction than do rolls ofsmaller diameter and also require greater power.

To overcome these objections mills have been made with work rolls of relatively small diameter in order to secure a larger angle at the rolling point between the rolls and to secure the required reduction, and these rolls have been hacked or supported by means of separate rolls to prevent excessive springing of the work rolls andtto give the required strength. But as these backing rolls are supported in substantially the same way as the work rolls they must be of a large diameter to give the required strength and stiffness, and they require large heavy and especially designed housings which makes the cost of the mill excessive, besides requiring an undue amount of space.

I have found that by providing a heavy rigid supporting member extending between the housings, and mounting on this supporting member two series of backing members comprising short rotating elements engaging the surface of the work roll and supported on the supporting member at points spaced a short distance from each other throughout the length of the roll, I can use a Work roll of a relatively smalldiameter which is supported so as to secure the required strength and stiffness without requiring excessive space and without requiring the use of large backing rolls. I have also found that by arranging the backing mem bers on the supporting member in two sets located on opposite sides of the vertical plane through the axis of the roll and so mountinw the individual backing members that their position on the supporting member may be adjusted in a direction transversely of the work roll, I can cause a deflection of any part of the work roll in a vertical plane While prei'enting deflection of this roll in a horizontal plane, and that I can, therefore, give the required pressure BIO in a vertical plane between the rolls for the work required at any point and at the same time prevent deflection of the work roll in a horizontal plane. I am thus enabled to secure the pressure required for the rolling operation and maintain the relatively small work roll in the proper rolling position.

In the drawing is shown a pair of spaced housings 10 mounted onthe usual rails 11 on which they are horizontally adjustable. Mounted on suitable bearings within the housings and extending between the lions; ings is a pair of work rolls 12 which are shown of a relatively small diameter. The rolls are shaped at one end, as shown at 14, for engagement with the usual couplings 15 connecting the rolls to any suitable source of power for driving them, and the rolls may be also connected to meshing gears 16 at their opposite ends to form a driving connection between them. Mounted in the housings and extending between them are heavy rigid supporting members 11, there being one of these members for each roll, that for the upper roll being located above this roll and that for the lower roll being located below it. This casting is of a heavy steel construction to give great strength and stiffness and it is also provided with heavy strengthenmg ribs 17 The lower supporting member extends at its opposite ends into the openings 18 through the housings and seats on the bottoms of these openings, as shown at 19. The opposite ends of the upper supporting member also extend into the openings in the housings and are guided for vertical movement on the opposite side walls thereof to allow for vertical adjustment of the upper roll with respect to the lower roll. The greater part of the lateral strain of the rolling operation is taken up by the heavy supportin members and by them transferred to the Tiousings, the strain being transmitted to these members through a number of rotatable blacking members 20 which engage the surfaces of the work rolls and form supports for these rolls throughout substantially the entire length thereof.

As shown on the drawing there are two set-s of these backing members for each work ro1l,'two above the upper roll and two below the lower.- roll, and these backing members comprise separate relatively small rolls independently mounted on the supporting members 17, The two sets of backing rolls are located on o posite sides of the vertical plane through tie center of the work roll, as shown in Fig. 2, so that they not only support the work roll in the vertical plane but alsoretain the work roll against deflection in the horizontal plane. In the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 each of the short supporting or backing rolls 20 is mounted on a short independent shaft 21 carried in a yoke, frame or block 22 which is adjust-ably mounted on the supporting member 17. The supporting member is recessed as shown, in which recesses these yokes, frames or blocks are mounted, and they may be adjusted on the supporting member by suitable means such as setscrews 23 threaded into the sides of the supporting member and accessible for manipulation at the sides thereof. After adjustment the screws may be locked by the lock nuts 31. B means of these screws any block 22 and t e backing roll 20 carried thereby may be adjusted in the supporting member to vary its vertical pressure on the work roll 12, and as there are backing rolls on opposite sides of the vertical plane through the axis of the work roll, two opposed rolls may be adjusted the same amount to give the required vertical pressure'or deflection to the work roll but will rigidly retain it against lateral deflection in the horizontal plane, and therefore, although any point in the work roll throughout its length may be deflected as desired in the vertical plane still the entire roll will be maintained in this plane against lateral movement under the strains of the rolling operation, and it will, therefore, always be maintained in the proper rolling position. This individual adjustment of the backing rolls will also ermit lateral deflection of the work roll i it is found desirable, and the rigid supporting member will retain it in this position. i

The corresponding backing rolls 20 of the two sets on opposite sides of the vertical plane through the center of the work roll may be located directly opposite to each other or they may be staggered, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. When they are arranged in staggered relation backing rolls of large:- diameter may be used without increasing the included angle (a) between the lines joining the axes of the backing rolls and the axis of the work roll beyond what is considered good engineering practice, in that the lateral thrust on these rolls will not be excessive. This is secured by overlapping the backing rolls, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. If this angle is too great the lateral thrust will be excessive. the maximum thrust for any given vertical thrust being secured when the angle (a) is nearly onehundred and eighty degrees at which time a toggle effect is secured. Also, by using this staggered arrangement I may secure a large number of comparatively short spaced supports for the backing members on the supporting member 17 throughout the entire length of the work roll. and can secure this effect with backing rolls which engage the entire surface of the work roll so that there is no uneven wearing effect of the backing rolls on the work roll to produce grooves or uneven surfaces therein. It is to be especiallIU ly noted that with the use of the relatively short backing rolls as shown, each in effect may be supported at its opposite ends directly on the supporting member 17, so that a uniform support may be provided for the work roll throughout the entire length thereof, or the work roll may be given a greater vertical deflection at the oint where the greatest pressure occurs, an the strain of this pressure throughout the entire length of the roll is taken by the relatively heavy, rigid supportin member 17. The backing rolls are prefera 1y mounted on anti-friction rollers 24 located between them and their supporting shafts to cause them to rotate more freely.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4 the backing members or rolls instead of being mounted on individual short shafts, as shown in Fig. 3, are mounted on a continuous single shaft which is of comparatively small diameter and supported in blocks 26 between the individual rolls, these blocks being supported on the supportin member 17 and independently adjustable t ereon by means of set screws 27 or other suitable means the same as the blocks 22, Fig. 3. This arrangement permits of individua adjustment of the backing rolls as the comparatively small shaft may be deflected or sprung to ermit this individual adjustment, and 1; ese rollsare supported on the supporting member 17 in the same manner as the arrangement shown in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 5 the backing rolls 20 are arranged in pairs in a single supporting block 28 mounted for vertical adjustment in the supporting member 17 which corresponds with the supporting member 17 of the previous figures, and it is adjustable in a vertical plane by means of a wedge 29 which may be shifted through the set screws 30 engaging the opposite ends of this wedge. The set screws are threaded in the side walls of the member 17 and are accessible for manipulation at the sides thereof. After manipulation they may be secured in adjusted position by lock nuts 31. It is preferred,-however, that the backing rolls be mounted so that they may be individually adjusted, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

In the form shown in Fig. 6 the backing rolls 20 are mounted to be individually adjustable in the supporting member 32 which corresponds to the supporting member 17 in the other figures. In this form, however, the blocks or yokes 33 carrying the backing rolls 20 are mounted in recesses 34 in the supporting member having inclined side walls 35, as shown so that the rolls are adjustable toward and from the work roll along the line joining the center of the work roll and the centers of the backing rolls. This adjustment is secured by the set screws 36 threaded in the side walls of the supporting member 32 and accessible for manipulation at the outer side thereof.

Bearing blocks 37 and 38 are provided for the work'rolls to retain them in their proper relation to the backing rolls. These bearing blocks are guided by the side walls of the opening 18 in the housing, and the upper block 37 is supported on upright rods 39 extending from below the housing where they are su ported by the usual lever and counterweig ts or heavy springs, not shown. These rods carry nuts 40 which engage the under side of the block 37. Extending between the two blocks 37 and 38 are bolts 41 carrying springs 42 which engage the o posite ends of the :blocks and tend to old them against the necks of the respective rolls. The upper supporting member 17 rests against the lower ends of the adjusting screws 43 mounted in the usual manner in the housings whereby the position of the upper roll and its supporting and backing means may be adjusted according to the work to be performed.

It will be appfirent from the foregoing description that y the construction and arrangement describd I can secure the requiredstifl'ness for work rolls of relativel small diameter, and can secure this strength and stiffness without occupying the excessive space which would be required where using large rolls for backing rolls, and furthermore, that I can so adjust the individual backing rolls as to secure any desired pressure in a vertical plane at any point through- .out the length of the work roll and still maintain it against lateral deflection in the horizontal plane during the rolling operation.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a rolling mill, a work roll, two sets of backing rolls for the work roll spaced laterally of each other, each set comprising a plurality of separate rolls, a support for the sets of rolls, and independent means for adjusting the individual backing rolls.

2. In a rolling mill, a pair of s aced housings, a work roll between said ousings, a rigid support mounted in and extending between thehousings, two sets of backing rolls for the work roll spaced laterally of each other and mounted on said support, and independent means on the support-for adjusting the individual rolls on the support.

3. In a rolling mill, a pair of spaced housings, a work roll between said housings, a rigid support mounted in and extending between the housings, two sets of backing rolls for the work roll spaced laterally of each other and mounted on said support, and means carried by said support extending transversely of the work roll and accessible at the side of the support for adjusting the positions of the backing rolls on the support.

4. Ina: rolling mill, a pair of spaced housings, a work roll between said housings. a rigid support mounted in and extending between the housings,'two sets of backing rolls engaging the work roll and spaced laterally from each other, independently movable blocks mounted-on the support for supporting the backing rolls, and screws extending transversely of the work roll for adjusting the blocks on the support.

5. In a rolling mill, a pair of spaced housings, a work roll between said housings, a rigid support mounted in and extending between the housings, two sets of backing rolls for the work roll spaced laterally of each other, a bearing block for each backing roll movably mounted on the support, and independent means for shifting the individual blocks to adjust the positions of the rolls on the support.

6. In a rolling mill, a pair ofspaced housings, a work roll between said housings, a rigid support mounted in and extending between the housings, two sets of backing rolls for the work roll spaced laterally of each other, and mounted on said support, the rolls of each set being arranged in staggered relation with those of the other set and in overlapping relation therewith, and independent means for shifting the individual backing rolls on the support in a direction transverse to the work roll to vary their position with respect to this roll.

7. In a rolling mill, a pair of spaced housings, a work roll between said housings, a rigid support mounted in and extending between the housings, two sets of backing rolls for the work roll spaced laterally of each other and mounted on said support, the rolls of each set being arranged in staggered relation with those of the other set and in overlapping relation therewith, independent blocks mounted on the support for carrying the individual backing rolls and movable on the support in a direction transversely of the work roll, and means for shifting the blocks on the support and retaining them in adjusted positions.

8. In a rolling mill, a pair of spaced housings,- a work roll between said housings, a rigid support mounted in and extending between the housings, two sets of backing rolls for the work roll spaced laterally of each other and mounted on said support, separate blocks for carrying the backing rolls and independently adjustable on the sup-port in a direction transversely of the work roll, and adjusting screws mounted in the support and engaging the individual blocks for adjusting the same, said screws being accessible for manipulation at the side of the support.

9. In a rolling mill, a pair of spaced housings. a work roll between the housings, a rigid support between the housings, a plurality of backing rolls for the work roll arranged to support the same throughout substanti ally the length thereof and mounted on said support, and means on the support for adjusting the individual backing rolls in a direction transversely of" the work roll.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JAMES R. CUE. 

